Read Psalm 32:1-5. 1Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. 5I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Sin promises a happiness that it can never deliver, especially for the believer. We saw this in the Garden of Eden. The promise of God’s own knowledge apart from God’s grace was a rebellion that led only to shame and hiding. Or as David puts it, day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. But when David uncovered his iniquity before God, God covered his sin and refused to count it against him.
The Apostle Paul quotes Psalm 32 in his epistle to the Romans.
Romans 4:6-8. 6just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Forgiveness in Christ promises a happiness that Jesus himself delivers to us through his shared death and resurrection with us. In Christ we are counted as righteous apart from works. Just as righteous as Jesus. Just as sinless as Jesus. Just as perfect as Jesus. Jesus’ death on the cross did not just cover over our sins temporarily, like the blood of a goat would have for David. It expiated the sins of the world permanently. Humanity’s debt is paid. Christian, your debt is paid!
Are you enjoying your forgiveness? Does knowing that none of your sins will ever be held against you make you happy? Is your spirit free from the deceit of guilt and shame? It can be.
To live is Christ is to live within the blessing of the full and free forgiveness of Christ’s cross.
Prayer. Jesus, may sin never bring me joy. May the truth of your forgiveness make me happy and blessed and keep my spirit free from sin’s deceit. Amen.
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To Live is Christ 